JOHN SMITHIES 1930-1993

The IWA lost one of its most
respected and devoted members on
July 19, 1993 when former National
Organizing Director John Smithies
passed away. Brother Smithies who
was aged 62 and retired at the end of
1991, was one of the union’s most
highly regarded individuals who dedi-
cated his life to the betterment of
working people.

At a funeral service held in Burnaby
B.C. on July 23rd, IWA-CANADA’s
National Organizing Director Lyle
Pona gave a eulogy.

“His (John’s) reputation as a pre-

mier organizer was well earned and
was helped by his open and honest
caring for workers’ problems,” said
Brother Pona.

Brother Smithies, whose working
background was in the shake and
shingle industry, was involved in
numerous organizing campaigns early
in his career in Locals 1-357 and 1-217
until he hired on as an organizer for
the IWA Regional Council No. 1 in
1972. In 1981 John was hired as
Director of Organizing.

During his first years as a regional
organizer, Brother Smithies returned

to his native Alberta to begin a very
successful organizing drive in that
province.

Bob DeLeeuw, financial secretary
of the Alberta Local recalls that
Brother Smithies gained the trust and
confidence of thousands of workers
on the campaigns they worked on in
the 1970's.

“John was one of the most sincere,
down to earth people that you'll ever
meet in your life,” says Brother
DeLeeuw. “He was a true front-line
soldier for our union.”

John was a working man’s organiz-

Pippin
le

Self-educated, he had a natural talent
for communicating with workers on

any level.

Sia Pe na
“John’s abi oF
directly related to his strong belief in
the truth, Almost all who came into
contact with John liked and
him for that quality. Even those whom
he could not convince to join the
union almost always kept their doors
open to him.”
“John truly believed what he said
and frequently said what he believed,
said Pona. “His pursuit of educating
workers of their rights was his ambi-
tion. John simply couldn't unde!

how workers could accept inferior
conditions and lifestyles without fight-
ing for something better.”

IWA National Organizer Rick
McRae was the last organizer to be
trained by Brother Smithies and
worked with him on campaigns in
1991, just prior to John’s retirement.

Those times with John were impor-
tant for Brother McRae, who says the
skills he learnt are invaluable.

“John taught me a lot about organiz-
ing but more about people and their
needs,” says McRae. “He (John)
always said that an organizer must lis-
ten carefully to workers and not be
judgmental. For that advice I am
thankful, not only as an organizer but
also as a person. I miss John very
much.”

Brother McRae says John “had a
love for people but more than any-
thing for IWA people.”

As Organizing Director Brother
Smithies had a genuine rapport with
those who worked under him, says
Rick. Most fittingly John finished his
career with the IWA out in the field as
an organizer. It was there he felt more
comfortable than in an office setting.

In the eulogy address Brother Pona
said John had “compassion for his fel-
low human beings, devotion to his
work and family, and a deep honesty
and integrity.”

Brother Pona, who also travelled
and organized with John said that
many times Brother Smithies said
how thankful he was to have a job
which allowed him to do what he
believed in.

John also carried a deep love and
often expressed his pride in his fami-
ly. He was supported by his wife and
children in his work with the union.

Brother Smithies is survived by his
wife Evelyn, daughter Deborah, and
son Jeff.

e IWA-CANADA’s portable
forest policy displays have
been exhibited at various
conventions and events
since they became available
in April of this year. The dis-
plays highlight the union’s
positions on the importance
of forest industry jobs and
the protection of the envi-
ronment. Local unions can
get a hold of the units by
contacting the union’s
national environment and
land use department.

16/LUMBERWORKER/SEPTEMBER, 1993